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    Coal mining in the UK has declined significantly over recent decades. Domestic coal production in 2014 was at a record low of 11.5 million tonnes and total employment in coal mining, including contractors, was just 3,715. As of early 2015 there were just three deep mines still operating in the UK, but all were scheduled to close by the end of 2016. This will leave UK domestic coal production focused solely on open cast mining operations. Over the 60 year period from 1948, 97% of UK coal mines closed as employment in the industry fell dramatically from 720,000 miners to below 50,000 by the late 20th century. The UK now relies on imports to meet its coal needs, with imports exceeding domestic production

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    Coal mining in the UK has declined significantly over recent decades. Domestic coal production in 2014 was at a record low of 11.5 million tonnes and total employment in coal mining, including contractors, was just 3,715. As of early 2015 there were just three deep mines still operating in the UK, but all were scheduled to close by the end of 2016. This will leave UK domestic coal production focused solely on open cast mining operations. Over the 60 year period from 1948, 97% of UK coal mines closed as employment in the industry fell dramatically from 720,000 miners to below 50,000 by the late 20th century. The UK now relies on imports to meet its coal needs, with imports exceeding domestic production

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    Coal Mining in The UK: Analysis & Background From

    Uploaded by

    Anonymous 9lbVTWb4r
    Coal mining in the UK has declined significantly over recent decades. Domestic coal production in 2014 was at a record low of 11.5 million tonnes and total employment in coal mining, including contractors, was just 3,715. As of early 2015 there were just three deep mines still operating in the UK, but all were scheduled to close by the end of 2016. This will leave UK domestic coal production focused solely on open cast mining operations. Over the 60 year period from 1948, 97% of UK coal mines closed as employment in the industry fell dramatically from 720,000 miners to below 50,000 by the late 20th century. The UK now relies on imports to meet its coal needs, with imports exceeding domestic production

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    Coal mining in the UK

    Analysis & background from E3G. E3G is an independent, non-profit organisation


    operating in the public interest to accelerate the global transition to sustainable
    development.
    The UK is still the third largest user of coal in Europe, and the second largest
    importer. However, UK domestic coal production in 2014 was at a record low of
    11.5 million tonnes.1 At the close of 2013 there were 9 deep mines and 21 open
    cast mines still in operation, with 8 mines under care and maintenance
    provisions after company insolvencies. Total employment, including contractors,
    was just 3,715. 2 Since then, closures have continued.
    As of early 2015 there were just three deep mines in operation, but all of
    them have received government support to enable a managed closure
    programme. Kellingley and Thoresby will close by October 2015, while
    Hatfield closed in July 2015 ahead of an intended closure date of the end
    of 2016.3 This will leave UK domestic coal production focused on open
    cast mining operations, where recent bankruptcies have exposed the
    inadequate financial provisions made for land restoration activities. 4
    Over the 60 year period from 1948, 97% of UK coal mines closed. Employment fell
    from a staggering starting point of 720,000 miners in 1948, reducing to 331,000
    in 1968, with the trend continuing downward over subsequent decades.
    UK coal consumption has since become dependent on overseas suppliers, with
    imports exceeding domestic production since 2003.5
    Prior to the recent General Election, Prime Minister David Cameron and the other
    party leaders confirmed their personal commitment to phasing out unabated coal
    as part of power sector decarbonisation.
    Introduction to role of coal
    Hard coal production (2013)
    Hard coal imports (2013)
    Coal reserves (2012)
    Jobs in coal mining (2013)
    CO2 emissions from coal combustion (2014)
    Sources: EIA, EPA, IEA, NMA, DECC

    12.9 Mt
    49.4 Mt
    50 Mt
    3,715
    94.7 Mt CO2e
    (22.44%)

    1 UK 2014 GHG provisional figures, March 2015


    2 DUKES 2014 Chapter 2
    3 Death of UK deep coal mines nears, Financial Times,
    January 7 2015; Loan for doomed coal mine, World Coal
    Association, January 8 2015
    4 See Big Coals big scam: scar the land for profit, then let
    others pay to clean up, George Monbiot, Guardian, April 28
    2015, and House of Commons debate on Open Cast Coal
    Sites (Restoration), January 29 2015.
    5 DUKES 2014 Chapter 2

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